Fed: Consumers shy away from new homes and cars

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2008
Fed: Consumers shy away from new homes and cars

Consumers may need more help from the reserve bank to get them spending.

Demand for cars and new homes has slumped massively .. and even the lure of foreign
goods appears to have dried up.

New economic data yesterday suggests households may need another prod next year.

Still .. there's some good news .. with coal exporters recording a 20 per cent increase
in demand in October.

That helped to produce a record trade surplus of nearly three billion dollars in the
month .. while imports were flat.

AAP RTV cb/kms/psm/

KEYWORD: ECONOMY (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.